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The Grow Native! Program

Grow Native! is a native plant marketing and education program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation. Grow Native! helps protect and restore biodiversity by increasing conservation awareness of native plants and their effective use in urban, suburban, and rural developed landscapes. Through collaboration with consumers, private industry, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, Grow Native! aims to significantly increase the demand and use of native plants in the lower Midwest—Missouri, southern Illinois, eastern Kansas, northern Arkansas, northern Oklahoma, and southern Nebraska.

Overarching Goals of the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! Program

• Provide quality native plant information and educational opportunities to our stakeholders: homeowners, landowners, livestock producers, gardeners, governmental agencies, local governments, educational institutions, and partner conservation and landscaping industry organizations.
• Increase demand for and supply of native plants and native plant landscaping and other services by marketing products and services of Grow Native! Professional Members and providing education to consumers.
• Manage activities of Grow Native! Program in a sustainable manner in terms of funding and labor.
• Maintain active subcommittees and full committee with good communication and respect for all involved.
• Have fun! Involvement in planning and executing Grow Native! Program activities should energize and inspire.

Fact Sheets for Educators on Missouri Native Plants

Forest Service Home > Wildflowers > About Us

About Us

The Celebrating Wildflowers Website

USDA Forest Service botanists and other specialists around the country have contributed to the editing, content, construction, and maintenance of this website. The site is dedicated to the enjoyment of the thousands of wildflowers growing on our national forests and grasslands, and to educating the public about the many values of native plants.

Celebrating Wildflowers emphasizes:

• The aesthetic value of plants - a field of wildflowers is a beautiful sight
• The recreational value of plants - picking berries is fun for the whole family
• The biological value of plants - native plants support other life
• The medicinal value of plants - chemicals from plants help combat sickness
• The economic value of plants - plant material such as floral greens are commercially valuable
• The conservation of native plants - protecting and maintaining native plant habitat

We hope you enjoy the website and come back to visit often!

The Celebrating Wildflowers Program

The USDA Forest Service started the Celebrating Wildflowers program in 1991. The program responds to public desire for information about native plants and their conservation. It is a way to promote and enjoy wildflowers on the 191 million acres of national forests and grasslands. The Bureau of Land Management, which manages 270 million acres of public lands, joined the program in 1994. Together, the two agencies now promote wildflower programs on about 20 percent of the nation’s landmass. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and USDA Agricultural Research Service have also joined the program. Teacher Resources

 To learn more

JOIN the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge

The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge (MPGC) is a nationwide call to action to preserve and create gardens and landscapes that help revive the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across America. We will move millions of individuals, kids and families outdoors and make a connection between pollinators and the healthy food people eat.

Any size is great! From window and patio planters, to home gardens, to pathways and roadsides, to acres of prairies and meadows – all can help! 

MISSION: Wildflower Meadow Seeds for Education serves as an educational tool which help create outreach programs for conservation awareness of native plants and their effective use in urban, suburban, and rural developed landscapes. Our goal is to help bring create educational programs and youth outreach which promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Wildflower Meadow Seeds for Education is a not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization based in Missouri.

Director of Development 

          Shira Schwartz 

Email: wildflowermeadowfarm@gmail.com